Portable chair.



M. BNI.

PORTABLE CHAIR.

APPLIATION FILED AUG. 28, 1913.,

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

A #l INVENTO@ MIHLY BNI, OF BENWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA.

PORTABLE CHAIR.'

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3,1914.

Application led August 28, 1913. Serial No. 787,216.

To all whom. t may concern Be it known that I, MIHLY BNI, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing` at` Benwood, in the county of Marshall and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Chairs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to portablechairs and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a chair having a self contained propelling mechanism, which when released will automatically shift the chair across a floor or platform.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a portable chair which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, efiicient and convenient in its use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangementof parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying Y drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended. y

In the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views z-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a chair in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, Fig. 3 a transverse section, and Fig. 4 a sectional detail.

Referring to the drawing in detail the chair includes a rectangular seat frame 5 in the form of a boX and having the inner face of each end wall 6 thereof, provided with cleats 7 constituting a stop for the lowering movement of a seat supporting member 8, the latter being provided o-n its upper face with a seat 9 and projecting upwardly, at an inclination, is a back 10. The member 8 is mounted upon a series of vertically disposed compressible springs 11 which are secured at their lower ends to the bottom 12 of the seat frame.

Connected to and depending from the bottom 12, at the rear thereof is a pair o-f rear supporting legs 13, each of which has secured to its lower end abracket 14 having a caster 15 revolubly mounted therein.

lings 28 and on each of its Secured to and depending from the bottom 12, near the front thereof, is a pair of hollow cylindrical front supporting legs 16, each of which is flanged at its upper end, as at 17 and secured to the bottom 12 by the hold-fast devices 18. The bottom 12 is provided with a pair of openings 19 which reglster with the legs 16 and extending through each of the openings 19 is a cylindrical projection 20 which forms part of a plug 21, the latter being mounted lin a leg 16 at the top thereof, as well as being iiXedly secured to the leg by the hold fast devices 22. The plug 21 and the projection 20 are provided with a vertically disposed opening 23, through which extends a vertical shaft 24, the latter having its lower end projecting through a plug 25 secured in the lower end of a leg 16 by the hold fast device 26. Each of the plugs 25 is formed with a pair of depending spaced arms 27 provided with bearings 28, in which is mounted a shaft 29. The shaft 29 projects from each of the bearprojecting ends is secured a wheel 30.

Mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 24 and bearing against the projection 20 is a beveled gear wheel 31 and mounted upon the lower end of the shaft 24 is a beveled gear 32 which meshes with a beveled gear 33 fixed to the shaft 29. The shafts 24 as well as the shafts 29 are rotatably mounted and the said shafts 24 are rotated through the medium of an operating shaft 34, provided with a pair of beveled gears 35 which mesh with the beveled gears 31. The shaft 34 projects through one of the end walls 6 and has a squared terminus 36 for the reception of a crank or other instrument for rotating said shaft 34, whereby the shafts 24 will revolve in one direction. The shaft 34 is revolubly mounted in supporting brackets 37 and is provided intermediate its ends with a ratchet wheel 38, engaged by a pawl 39 to prevent back rotation of the shaft 34. The pawl 39 is'pivotally mounted, as at 40 in a support 41 and has connected to one end a spring 42, the other end of said spring being attached to the support 41. The pawl 39 is also connected by a link 43 to the member 8 whereby when said member 8 is depressed, against the action of the springs 11, the pawl will be shifted clear of the ratchet 38, allowing of the shaft to rotate in one direction.

Arranged within each of the legs 16 is a coiled power transmitting spring 44, one end 45 is liXedly secured to a leg 16 and the other end 46 is fiXedly secured to a shaft Q4. When the shaft 34 is rotated in one direction, the springs 44 are placed under tension and the tension .stored therein through the engagement of the paWl 39 with the ratchet 38.

It Will be assumed that the springs 44 have been Wound, and that the elements of the chair are in the position as shown in Fig. 3, one sitting upon the seat 9 will depress it and the member 8, the latter shifting the pavvl 39 out of engagement with the ratchet 38 Will cause the springs 44 to come into play, revolving the shafts 2 4, thesev latter being operatively connected to the shafts. 29., will rotate them as Well as the Wheels 30, under such circumstances the chair will be shifted across the Hoor or platform. lVhen Winding the springs, the chair is tilted, so that the Wheels will be clear of the floor,

under such circumstances, although the shafts 29 will be rotated, the chair will not be shifted.

What I claim is 1. A portable chair including a pair of rear legs provided with casters, a pair of front legs provided with wheels, a seat j frame connected to said legs, a normally loclred spring actuated propelling mechanism arranged in the frame and front legs and operatively connected with said Wheels for driving them When the mechanism is released, a depressible seat, and means for ref leasing said mechanism when the seatV is depressed causing thereby the travel of the chair.

2. A portable chair including apar of rearlegs provided with casters, a pair of front legs provided With Wheels, a seat frame connected to said legs, a normally locked spring actuated propelling mechanism arranged in the frame 'andfro-nt legs and operatively connected With said vWheels for driving them when the mechanism is released, a depressible seat, means for releasngsaid mechanism when the seat is depressed causing thereby the travel of the chair, and means for winding said propel-` lingy mechanism. Y v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

MIHLY BENI.

Witnesses JOSEPH PUsKAs, SAMUEL GORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents, each, by addressing the, GQmlltissoner of Baten-iti, Washington, D. (2.,l 

